Nick and Ben in NYC

Hey everyone. Nick and I are going to be attending the Starchefs.com International Chefs Congress this year in Brooklyn. We want to make sure we eat at some bomb places while we are in town. Here is what is on our list thus far(no particular order):

Luksus

WD-50

Atera

Nomad

EMP

Momofuku Ko (well all of them actually)

We are on a tight schedule so we need to triage our list. What places are we missing? What about lunch spots? Who has the best coffee? Pastries? Pizza? Thanks for the input everyone!

Cheers.

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Patrik_Racz_19800

You might want to have a look at The Elm. Its Paul Liebrandts restaurant. http://theelmnyc.com/

robert.c.brown15

You can always go to Per Se's Salon for lunch or dinner. You don't need a reservation, just show up (11:30am starts lunch and 5:30pm starts dinner). If you don't have a jacket they can give you one. It is a la carte from most of the tasting menu of that day. They also do a 5 course dessert tasting menu if you wanted to go for that. I really enjoy going to the Salon. You still get the standard amuse bouches and bread, so it is as close to the full experience as you can get without trying to get an impossible reservation and dropping over $500 a person.

This isn't as high end as you guys might be looking for, but the Bouchon Bakery Cafe on the 3rd floor of the Time Warner Center (below Per Se) is a really great meal at a decent price. More or less a smaller Bouchon Bistro menu. I have always just shown up and gotten a table, no issues, and a great meal.

How do you end up getting reservations for places like EMP? Lucky, or does being in the industry help?

ajcnyc13_32955

Are you staying in Brooklyn or Manhattan?

You've got quite a list already, especially for higher-end/modernist/European fare. I think Le Bernardin is pretty special, but it's splitting hairs compared to your list.

Here are some of my favorites including some more ethnic options:

Kajitsu: shojin cuisine

Ichimura at Brushstroke (sushi)

Yakitori Totto

Flushing for regional Chinese

Elmhurst for Thai

Booker and Dax (cocktails)

Pok Pok (though you've probably been to the one in Portland)

Morgernstern's Finest Ice Cream

Empellon Cocina

Cosme (from Enrique Olvera - I think it opens on the 28th)

Ivan Ramen

Xi'an Famous Foods

Pizza: many good ones and various styles to choose from these days, but some include Motorino, Paulie Gee's, Roberta's, Di Fara

Sorry this is a bit scattered - email me if you want more recommendations - I've got plenty - or more color on any of the above, lunch options, etc.

ttpoker

Per Se - for the view if you are already experienced with TFL's menu in Napa
SUSHI NAKAZAWA - The Jiro experience, relocated to NYC. The one place you MUST go to properly experience the subtly of properly made edome sushi.
Booker & Dax - coordinate with Dave Arnold first
Katz Deli - its an experience. Research the history first.
Eatily - Go there to shop, stay there to eat. Marvel at the charcuterie, drool over the Neapolitan style pizza Vera Pizza Napoletana, and DO NOT MISS the vegetable butcher.
11 Madison Park
Papaya King. Get 2 dogs and a papaya juice. Be prepared to be amazed at the quality of this ridiculously cheap junk food.
Vegetarian Dim Sum House - modernist Chinese food before it was considered modernist. Faux shark fin soup, mock squid, etc. Its a breeding ground for ideas that great chefs borrowed from
Brooklyn Fare (chef's table)
torrisi italian specialties
Ask the WD-50 staff where to find a great pickle vendor on the Lower East Side. Its a must-do cultural experience. If they tell you to go to Katz's, they are doing it wrong ;-) Speaking of WD-50, get the Grandad's Ghost cocktail - it will make you want to get a rotovap asap.

coryhansen78

My wife and I had a vacation in NYC a while back: Your lists, and the suggestions below, look great! Here's a few others we liked:

Empellon Taqueria (brunch!!!)
Mayahuel (cocktails)
Keste Pizza & Vino
Doughnut Plant
Fatty Crab
and of course Katz's, Russ & Daughters, etc...

Jae_Lam_22161

The Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare & Per Se! doo eeet. :] Oh, and...Shake Shack it up! HALAL GUYS FOR LATE LATE..LATE nights. Have fun guys!

P.S. my mouth is insanely jealous

EMP MEMORIESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ttpoker

this may help: http://ny.eater.com/2014/9/30/6873645/michelin-nyc-2015-stars-rating

robert.c.brown15

speaking of the Per Se view, if you are the first 2 there at either 11:30 or 5:30 for the Salon, they will sit you in the best seat in the entire place, including the main dining room. It is a couch with a table in front of it that is directly in front of a large window overlooking the entire circle. I'm sure the main dining room is great, but I'm talking this seat it right up against the window, more or less. My fiancee and I sat there when we went to celebrate our engagement. Incredible.

Nicholas_Gavin_68199

Super helpful, thanks. We will be staying in times square I believe.

Nicholas_Gavin_68199

Awesome, thank you so much.

Nicholas_Gavin_68199

I definitely want to check out Bouchon Bakery Cafe! Thanks for the tips.

robert.c.brown15

I was there this past Thursday before heading to the opera house. They have a new fall menu. My fiancee got an AMAZING pastrami sandwich. I'm talking pretzel roll, beer mustard, amazing pickles, and whatever else I can't remember. Also, go for the cheeses. I had a life changing (I don't eat good cheese as much as I should) ash rind goat cheese. Everything is really solid. You'll enjoy it. Then get some macarons of course.

I think the best part is the simplicity of it all. You just show up, they will have room for you, and then you'll get some of the best food for your dollar in the whole city. Enjoy!

Tim_Salazar_36007

Lucali in BK for pizza

Ben_Johnson_34605

Thanks everyone, great suggestions!

ajcnyc13_32955

If you need a late night option coming back to your hotel, just south of Times Square is Koreatown (32nd bet. Sixth & Seventh, roughly). They have a number of 24-hour options. Of course the halal guys mentioned by others are good too.

Emmett_Barton_12803

Uhg, sorry.

douglas_bd

Lots of suggestions already, but one on my NYC wish list that I don't see here is Dirt Candy, though they may be mid-move while you're there. Also Mission Cantina. I've not been to either, but they're on my list. WD-50 would be my must stop.

robert.c.brown15

Good call on Dirt Candy. I need to check that place out.

ren_74229

Contra

Joe_107457

Don't forget the Flatiron room and chef Susan Burdain

mike.minasian

At Eataly don't miss the Foccacia di Recco!

Tim_Sutherland_52834

Staying at Times Square, then you must go to Flavortown - Guy's American Kitchen & Bar. With 500 seats you should be able to get in without a reservation. This will also give you the true New York tourist experience.

It would be worth going to, to see how on the mark the NYT review is.

Jess_Voelker_90708

+1 on Fatty Crab.

Matthew_Snyder_68770

My wife was just there, during a business trip to NYC. She said it was like sushi night or something (?), but she really dug the vibe.

Timmy_74965

From the pastry angle:

Lafayette

Dominique Ansel (if not for the kouign amann!)

Four & Twenty Blackbirds (because I like nothing more than a slice of good pie)

Levain

Bien Cuit

Milk Bar

But do not leave NY without an Ansel kouign amann....mark my words.

Jess_Voelker_90708

Lunch=You guys have to go to Parm. It's everything that is amazing about East Coast sub shops except somehow way way better too. Meatball parm=amazing. Sausage and peppers=shut up. Mozzarella sticks=oh my god Parm, I hate you. Ugh, obsessed. You gotta go. The cocktails are amazing too.